Brisant explosive



Patented Apr. 12. 1927.

BEBNHABD JACQUES FL'U'BSCHEIM, O1 FLEET, ENGLAND.

BRISANT EXPLOSIVE.

No Drawing. Application filed October 9, 1924, Serial no. 742,513, and in Great Britain October 86, 1988.

It is an object of my invention to produce an explosive destined for blasting or demolition operations which shall combine nupenetrability by water with high shattermg 6 power, high density, reliable and easy detonation, safety in handling and reasonable cost. No explosive hitherto available fulfils all these requirements.

Thus amatols, which have been used unl der Water in closed containers only, cannot N. T. is penetrated by liquids, and cast T.

N. T. is too difficult to detonate. Compressed T. N. A. (Tetranitroaniline) is penetrated b water. p

I have found that crystalline nitro-explosives which like... T. N. A. cannot be con veniently fused but have the necessary qual-, ities with the exception of imperviousness to water becomeimpervious without detracting substantially from the other qualities when they are permeated by a proportion of a suitable fusible nitrocompound, of thenccessary degree of insolubility in water, which has solidified in the mass, the propor-. tion of this fusible nitro-compound being such that the mixture'containing the fused compound cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly higher than the temperature at which said fusible nitro-compound melts in the mass.-

Thus it is possible to obtain completely water-proof T. N. A.-compositions of high density, capable of being easil moulded,

when so small a percentage of t e admixed fusible nitro-colnpound is used that the composition -when heated asaforesaid cannot be poured readily; and that explosives thus 0btainedusing suitable fusible nitro-com pounds'can be detonated with ease and regularity and possess a shattering power more closely approximating the outstanding brisance of T. N. A.; and that they generally fulfil the requirements outlined above for an explosive which may be used under water.

Other suitable materials, such as, for instance, one or more other suitable nitrocompounds. or inorganic nitrates, may beems bodied in such compositions. 1

Examples of explosive compositions made in accordance with my invention are as folows:

Per cent. T. N. T 5 30 23 10 9 Tetryl 0 0 Q r O .3 T. N. A 65' 60 65 90 88 Barium nitrate ".30 10 12 0 y- 0 The minimum of fusible nitro-compound required varies according to the nature and proportions of the ingredients; it does not,

for instance, exceed ,5 .per cent in the first example.

The compositions are obtained by causing the fused portion to be distributed throughout the unfused portion; this object may be attained by mixing the crystalline nitroexplosive which cannot conveniently be fused with the fusible nitro-compoundand heating the mixture until the fusible compound isliquefied; or by melting the fusible nitrocompound and mixing with it the crystalline Ditto-explosive which cannot conveniently be fused.

In the preferred procedure an intimate mixture (made for instance by grinding) of the materials is filled into a -container which maybe either a mould or the final container (wheresuc'h is used), and the container is heated until the fusible nitro-compound is liquefied. If high densityis desired, pres sure maybe applied before and/or during cooling. ,After the container has been cooled or allowed to cool, the composition is found to be hard, compact, of desired shape, impervious towater or mineral 'oil and,'when desired, generally of a density approximating its absolute density (usually in the neighborhood of 1.9). v

The compositions ofwhieh the abov' 'are examples offer special advantages for the shooting (torpcdoing) of oil wells; but

they can also be used advantageously for manyother purposes, such as military demohtion work, or (with or without a con-.

tainer) for blasting operations under water,

or for surface demolition of iron, rocks, trees, etc.

In the designation -a fusible nitro-eomcompound which cannot conveniently. be

pound used herein, 1 include a fusible mixture of intro-compounds as well as a single fusible nitro-compound, and in the designation a nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused used herein, I include a mixture of such nitro-compounds as well as a single such nitro-compound,

Having thus fully described the nature of the said invention and the best means I know of carrying the same into' practical efi'ect, I claim 1. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of a crystalline nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused which process consists iiicausing the material to be permeated by such a proportion of a fusible nitro-compound which has solidified in the mass that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which this fusible compound melts in the mass.

2. A process for producing. an explosive composition impervious to water from a material 'consisting of tetranitroaniline, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated by such a proportion of a fusible nitro-compound which has solidified in the mass that the mixture cannot readily be poured'when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which said fusible compound melts in the mass.

3. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water' from a material consisting of a crystalline nitrocompoundwhich cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing with the material a fusible nitro-compound in such proportion that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which said fusible compound melts in the mass, and then heatingthe mixture until the said fusible nitro-compound is fused.

4. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of a crystalline nitrocompound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing with the material a fusible nitro-coinpound in fused state in such proportion that the mixtures cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which said fusible nitro-compound melts in the mass.

5. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of a crystalline nitrofused, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated with such a proportion of trinitrotoluene which has solidified in the mass that the mixture cannot readily be poured. when it is, at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which the-trinitrotoluene melts in the mass.

6. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of a crystalline nitrocompound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in un ting the material with such a proportion of trinitrotoluene that'the mixture cannot readily be poured at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotoluene melts in the mass and then ljieating the mixture until the trinitro toluene uses.

7. A" process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of a crystalline nitrocompound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing the material with such a proportion of fused trinitrotoluene that the mixture cannot readily be poured at a temperature which is onlysi the trintrotoluene melts in the mass.

SLA process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material consisting of tetranitroaniline, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated with between 5 and ghtly above the temperature at which being readily poured when at a temperature which is only. slightly above the temperature' at which the said fusible nitro-compound melts in the mass.

11. An explosive composition impervious to water and containing tetranitroaniline permeated with a fusible nitro-compound which has solidified in the mass, the composition being incapable of being readily poured when at a temperature which is only slightly above-the temperature at which the said fusible nitro-compound melts in the mass.

12. An explosive composition impervious to' water and containing tetranitroaniline permeated with trinitrotoluene which has solidified in the mass, the composition being incapable of being readily poured when at till a. temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotoluene melts in the mass.

13. An explosive composition containing tetranitroaniline and trinitrotoluene, the trinitrotoluene amounting to between 5 and 10 per cent of the weight of the mixture.

14. An explosive composition containing tetranitroaniline and trinitrotoluene, the trinitrotoluene amounting to between 10 and 28 per cent of the weight of the mixture.

15. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-compound' which cannot conveniently-be fused, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated by such a proportion of a fusible nitro-compound which has soliditied in the mass that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the tem perature at which this fusible compound melts in the mass.

'16. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising tetranitroaniline, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated by such'a proportion of a fusible nitro-compound which has solidified in the massthat the mixture'cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which said fusible compound melts in the mass.

17. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing with the material a fusible nitro-compoiindin such proportion that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at' which said fusible compound melts in the mass, and then heating the mixture until the said fusible nitro-compound is fused.

- 18. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing with the material a fusible nitro-compound in fused state in such proportion that the mixture cannot be readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the 'tcmperature at which said fusible nitrocompound melts in the mass.

19. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-coinpound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in ausing the material to he permeated with such a'proportion of trinitrotoluene which has solidified in the mass that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotoluene melts in the mass.

20. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in causing the material to be ermeated with a fusible nitrocompound in fused state in such proportion that the mixture cannot readily be poured when it is at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which this fusible nitro-compound melts in" the mass and applying pressure prior to the solidifica- .tion of said fusible compound. a

21. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-compound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists inmixing the material with such a proportion of trinitrotoluene that the mixture cannot readily be poured at a temperature which is only slightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotoluene melts in the mass and then heating the mixture until the trinitro toluene fuses.

22. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising a crystalline nitro-coinpound which cannot conveniently be fused, which process consists in mixing the material with such a proportion of fused trinitrotoluene that the mixture cannot readily be poured at a temperature which is onlyslightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotoluene melts in the mass.

23. A process for producing an explosive composition lll'lPBI'VlOUS to water from a material comprising tetranitroaniline which process consists in causing the the material to be permeated with such a proportion of fused trinitrotoluene that the mixture cannotreadily be poured when it is at a temperature which .is only slightly above the temperature at which the trinitrotolucne melts in the mass.

24. A process for producing an explosive composition imperviousto water from a material comprising tetranitroanilinc, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated with between 5 and 40 per cent by weightof trinitrotoluene which has solidified in the mass.

25. A process for producing an explosive composition impervious to water from a material comprising tetranitroaniline, which process consists in causing the material to be permeated with between 10 and 528 per cent. by weight of trinitrotoluene which has solidified in the mass.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

BERNHARD JACQUES 'FLURSCHEIM. 

